The New Year Begins with Language: How to Properly Greet in Ukrainian.

According to ТСН: The New Year is approaching, and thoughts about gifts and greetings for loved ones become particularly relevant. However, warm words are just as important as beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree.

Sincerity is the foundation of any greeting. In the context of a challenging year, it is important to sincerely greet one another and wish goodness in Ukrainian, avoiding surzhik and borrowings.

How to Say It Correctly: New Year or New Year

When we talk about the holiday celebrated on the night of January 1, it is correct to write 'New Year'. If we refer to the year as part of the calendar in a greeting, both words are written in lowercase: 'new year'. For example: 'I wish you that the new year is better than all the previous ones!'.

Which Adjectives to Use: 'Upcoming' or 'Coming'

One can often hear 'with the upcoming New Year', but this option is not the best. The contemporary Ukrainian language's superstitions do not allow using the active participle of the present tense with the suffix '-ing'.

Essentially, the word 'upcoming' does not quite fit the meaning, as it is unclear where or whom this year is approaching. Logically, a greeting should relate to the next year, so we should not focus on this.

In the Ukrainian language, there is a wonderful word 'coming', which fits for addressing. This word simply means 'the one that will come' and is not borrowed. You can also use 'Happy pre-New Year!'.

Do not forget to greet not with a nOvel, but with a nEw year.

How to Speak Correctly in Ukrainian

We suggest several words and phrases worth using, and some to avoid when talking about the New Year and holidays:

• Not 'holiday', but 'celebration'.

• Not 'gifts', but 'presents'.

• Not 'made', but 'prepared'.

• Not 'following', but 'next'.

• Not 'pine tree', but 'Christmas tree'.

• Not 'winter', but 'wintertime'.

• Not 'toy', but 'plaything'.

Summarizing the year and making wishes for the next one, remember that you 'summarize', not 'lead', and the past year is 'received', not 'running'. Wishes are made for 'the next', not 'following' year.

Wish prosperity and a happy new year, but avoid 'well-being' and 'prosperous' year.

Forms of New Year Greetings

Official greeting from several people:

Accept our heartfelt greetings for the New Year!Dear colleagues! Please accept our warmest greetings for the New Year!

Unofficial variant:

I congratulate / we congratulate you (you — if addressing several people) on the New Year!Sincerely / heartily / warmly I congratulate / we congratulate you on the New Year!

Greeting and wishes (two in one):

Happy New Year to you!Joyful Holidays!Have a great New Year celebration!

Greeting using address:

With the New Year, dear people!With the New Year, dear friends, we joyfully greet you!

Thus, the New Year celebration is not just about gifts, but also about good wishes and warm words. Each greeting becomes part of a shared celebration that helps us maintain a connection with one another, especially in challenging times.

So choose the right words and motivated wishes, so your greetings sound sincere and convincing, as language is a great power that can unite us in the toughest times.